EU Commission says it's in talks with Google

• Google was fined €460 million for favoring its own services in shopping, hotels, transport, and sports search results, and €430 million for app store restrictions on developers
• The Commission ordered Google to allow app developers to steer users away from its app store and treat competitors in a non-discriminatory manner within a 60-day compliance period
• Google has already begun implementing changes to search results and service fees for app developers, which the Commission will assess while seeking input from market operators and third parties

Summary: EU Commission in Talks with Google Over Competition Fines

The European Commission confirmed Wednesday it is in active dialogue with Google regarding compliance measures following significant antitrust fines imposed in July 2025. The EU has fined Alphabet's Google €460 million ($511.43 million) for favoring its own services in shopping, hotels, transport, and sports search results, plus an additional €430 million for restrictions placed on app developers using the Google Play app store.

Key Compliance Requirements:

• Google must treat competitors fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner
• The company must allow app developers to direct users away from Google Play
• Compliance deadline: 60 days from the July ruling

Current Status:

Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier declined to prejudge the outcome but confirmed ongoing discussions with Google. The Commission has acknowledged that Google has already begun implementing changes to its search engine results and has announced modifications to service fees for app developers on Google Play.

Next Steps:

The European Commission will conduct a thorough assessment of Google's implemented measures and will seek input from market operators and third parties to evaluate compliance effectiveness.

Market Context:

These enforcement actions represent the EU's continued crackdown on Big Tech anti-competitive practices, targeting Google's dominant market position in both search and app distribution. The fines and required structural changes could impact Google's business model and revenue streams from both search advertising and app store commissions, potentially benefiting smaller competitors and developers who have long complained about Google's preferential treatment of its own services.